Improvement in game-boards



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIoa.

FRIEDRICH HOMRIGHAUSEN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

IMPROVEMENT IN GAME-BOARDS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 174,958, dated March21, 1876; application filed February 10, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRIEDRICH HOMRIG- HAUSEN,of New York city, in the county and State of New York, have invented anew and Improved Game-Box, of which the following is a specification:

Figure 1 is a side view of my improved game-box, showing the same halfopen. Fig.

2 is a vertical longitudinal section, showing it completely open. Fig. 3is a plan view of the same, showing it open.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all thefigures.

This invention relates to a new box, which may be used as a receptaclefor the pieces employed in various games, such as checkers, dominos,&c., and of which the inner side, when opened, will constitute acontinuous game-board. The box, when closed, may be used to reverse andmix the different pieces of the game, all as is hereinafter more fullydescribed.

In the drawing, the lettter A represents one half, and the letter B theother half, of my improved game-box, both being of the same size, shape,and construction. Each of these two halves or parts is composed of abottom board, a, and of projecting ledges d and e, which surround theboards a on three of their sides, and project from the inner facesthereof. At the contiguous edges the two parts A and B have noprojecting ledges, but are joined by hinges ff, that are fastened uponthe ends of the ribs or ledges d d.

When the two halves A and B are folded one upon the other to close thebox, the ledges d and c of one half will fold and rest upon the ledgesdand c of the other half.

To the hinged edges of the boards a is affixed, by nails, glue, or inother suitable manner, a flexible connecting-band, g, of leather orequivalent material, as shown. This band 9 extends transversely acrossthe entire width of the box, and folds and is compressed between thecontiguous hinged edges of the boards a when the box is opened for play,as in Fig. 2. In this position the inner faces of the boards a aconstitute a continuous uninterrupted game-board, upon which the piecesused in the games of dominos, checkers, chess, or the like, may beproperly placed.

Heretofore folding game boxes were usually arranged to constitute thecontinuous gameboards with their outer faces, and were, therefore, muchmore liable to injury. When, however, the two halves A and B are foldedone upon the other, as in Fig. 1, the band 9 will be stretched to closethe otherwise open'side of the box, so that such box will constitute athe pieces of dominos or other game to be used with the box.

By this construction I may use the box for mixing and reversing thepieces of the game by placing such pieces on one of the boards a, thenclosing the box, shaking and reversing it, so that the pieces will bethoroughly mixed and turned over without giving an opportunity tocorrupt players to keep in view and pick desirable pieces.

It will be observed that in my improved box it is necessary to apply thehinges to the raised ledges d, as otherwise the inner faces of theboards a a would not constitute a continuous game-board when open, norbe separated suflicient for a perfect box when closed. The flexible band9 is also a necessary element of my invention.

I claim as my invention- A game -box composed of the two equal halves Aand B, each half having the inwardly-projecting ledges d d and e onthree of its sides, the hinges f on the ledges d, and the flexible band9 between their contiguous ends, all constructed and arrangedsubstantially as herein shown and described.

F. HOMRIGHAUSEN.

Witnesses:

ERNEST G. WEBB, F. V. BRIESEN.

